Cathy Malloy speaks from the heart during her husband's inauguration Wednesday

HARTFORD — She kept a low profile throughout her husband's hard-fought re-election bid, avoiding the spotlight and forsaking the testimonial TV ads popular among political spouses.

But on Wednesday, with the ugliness of the campaign receding into history, Cathy Lambert Malloy debuted the commercial that she would have made on behalf of her husband.

"Please vote for my husband, Dannel, also known as Dan Malloy," Cathy Malloy told the audience at the State Armory moments before Malloy was sworn in for a second term. "He's a really, really nice guy, he's a great father and, as a Massachusetts girl would say, he's wicked smaht."

She took one final swipe at Malloy's defeated Republican opponent, Tom Foley, noting that her husband has a plan for the state, "unlike the other guy."

In introducing the governor, Cathy Malloy delivered a surprisingly personal speech, reflecting on the couple's shared passion for public service and alluding to difficult times they have faced together.

HARTFORD — State Sen. Andrew Maynard, in a surprise to many, returned to the Senate Chamber Wednesday for his first public appearance since suffering a major brain injury in a fall in mid-July.

Maynard, a Stonington Democrat, came through the main Senate door with outgoing Senate President Pro Tem...

HARTFORD — State Sen. Andrew Maynard, in a surprise to many, returned to the Senate Chamber Wednesday for his first public appearance since suffering a major brain injury in a fall in mid-July.

Maynard, a Stonington Democrat, came through the main Senate door with outgoing Senate President Pro Tem...

(CHRISTOPHER KEATING)

"There have been many days and many nights when Dan has returned home when things ... well, let's just say there's been really good days and very sad days," she said, her voice wavering, "and we've moved ahead understanding that and that's what a leader does. ... We have made it through many storms together."

She also grew emotional when speaking of the couple's three sons, who sat with them on stage at the Armory.

"We cannot tell you how proud we are of them and how grateful we are that they have been with us every step of the way,'' she said.

She started her comments by poking fun at her no-nonsense image.

"For those of you who know me, you can be assured I'll not be taking the next few minutes to gush about my husband," Malloy said. "In fact, if I did, most of you would say, 'Where is Cathy Malloy and what have you done with her body?'"

Yet she spoke warmly of her husband and their many years in politics, which began more than four decades ago.

"We met as college freshmen and, truth be told, we've been involved in one campaign or another since then," she said. They worked on Dan Malloy's campaign for student government as an undergraduate at Boston College and spent the weekends volunteering for former Massachusetts congressman and Catholic priest Robert Drinan.

She recalled his commitment to her mother, who lived with the couple at the executive mansion for two years before she died at age 94.

"Your governor was an amazing son-in-law," she told the crowd.

At close to 8 minutes long, Cathy Malloy's speech was longer than that of her husband, who spoke for about 6 minutes, 45 seconds.

"Let me assure you," the governor said once he took the microphone, "I did not dream that I would be upstaged by my wife at my inaugural."